The rest of the ride was quite smooth. The three first years went back to their proper seats, careful to use the seatbelts that time, and passed the remaining hours of the trip with idle conversation. There was some toffee tucked away in the glove compartment and they picked at it as they talked.

By nightfall, they arrived at Hogwarts. The castle glistened across the lake, almost like it was welcoming them back after their months of absence. (Y/N) could see the lights in Gryffindor Tower shining brightly and she thought of the nights she'd spend studying with Hermione. Or rather, talking at Hermione while she studied. She thought of the hours all four of them would spend in the common room, the way her friends would only ever be just around the corner, and how she would no longer have to pretend to be someone she wasn't for the coming months.

"Welcome home," Ron said, gazing ahead at the castle.

(Y/N) felt herself smile. She was home. How truly lucky she was.

The blissful moment was painstakingly short-lived. The Ford Anglia's engine groaned and the car wobbled unsteadily. For a moment, the car went about normally and (Y/N) began to think they would be okay. However, as soon as the thought crossed her mind, they were falling, nose first towards the Hogwarts grounds.

"Up!" Shouted Harry. "UP!"

Ron tried shifting gears and slamming pedals to no avail. "It's not working!"

"Well, do something!" (Y/N) demanded.

Harry slid over in his seat and helped Ron tug on the gear shift. It didn't do much good; it was still stuck, and the Anglia was still plummeting further and further down.

Ron reached for his wand and tapped it on the steering wheel. "Stop, stop, stop!"

It was not a very useful effort, nor very bright. All he managed to do was snap his wand nearly in half. It only remained in tact thanks to a few splinters, but (Y/N) doubted it would ever be of any use again.

"Mind that tree!"

As soon as Harry uttered the warning, there was a deafening scrape of metal against wood and they were lodged deep within the tree's branches, virtually unharmed.

Ron raised his wand with shaking hands. He looked like he might cry, and much paler than usual. "My wand," He said in a shaky voice. "Look at my wand!"

"Be thankful it's not your neck." Harry said.

(Y/N) opened her mouth to tell Ron that Mr. Ollivander may be able to mend it, but something hit the side of the car with a loud, heavy thud. She merely screamed instead and the owls beside her began screeching again.

"What's happening?" Ron squeaked. He was gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles had turned white.

"I don't know," Answered Harry.

(Y/N) looked out of the windshield just in time to see a fat, dangerous looking tree branch smash itself right into the hood. The car lurched forward, and all three of the second years began to scream. Chaos had broken loose. Another branch, the size of a python, smashed through the rear glass and nearly knocked (Y/N) out cold. Luckily, she was quick enough to duck out of the way. The roof had been hit so many times it'd started to cave in and the hood of the car looked to be almost folded in half.

With one final hit, they were pushed from the branch they landed on and the Anglia fell the rest of the way down to the ground. (Y/N) felt the floor of the car suddenly begin to vibrate; the engine had started back up.

"Ron, drive!" She shouted. "Now!"

"Come on, go!" Urged Harry at the same time. "Fast!"

He hurried to put the car in drive and pulled away just before all of the tree's branches came smashing down on the grassy field. The Anglia pulled just far enough for them to be out of harm's way before it stopped.

(Y/N) looked behind her at the tree settling in, as if it were going to sleep for the night, as if it hadn't just tried to kill them. Before she could even begin to be annoyed, the car's doors opened, and Harry and Ron flew out of the car. She was left behind, stunned for a few moments before the two front seats slid apart and her seat lurched forward. (Y/N) tumbled out of the car and landed beside Ron in the grass. A few moments later, Alcestis' cage was thrown into her arms, Scabber's into Ron's, and Hedwig's cage across next to Harry. It opened in the fall, and Hedwig sped off towards the castle without a backwards glance. Harry and Ron's trunks were the last things to be ejected, and as soon as the Anglia was empty, it sped away.

"The car!" Cried Ron, dropping Scabbers in the grass. He and Harry chased after it without a second thought.

(Y/N) set down Alcestis gently and opened up her cage. "Don't go far," (Y/N) said, and then she started after her two friends.

She caught up with them just in time to see the car pulling into the Forbidden Forest. They didn't dare to go in there, not since what happened the last time.

"Dad's gonna kill me," Ron said weakly. He turned around and meekly began trudging back to his things. "Can you believe our luck? Of all the trees we could've hit, we had to get one that hits back."

(Y/N) eyed it as she reached for the empty aviary Alcestis left behind. "I hate that tree," (Y/N) decided.

"Come on," Harry picked up his trunk with one hand and Hedwig's cage with the other. "We'd better get up to the school."

Though (Y/N) loved the idea of arriving by flying car that morning, she found it was more trouble than it was worth. She was cold, she was bruised, and she felt a bit stiff as they trudged up the grassy hill. All she could think of was how, in future trips to school, she would stick with the Hogwarts Express.

"I think the feast's already started." Ron dropped his drunk at the bottom of the front steps, where all the other student's luggage was stored. He crossed over to a brightly lit window and peered inside. "Hey! Come look! It's the Sorting!"

(Y/N) didn't have time to find her things, so she simply set the cage atop of Harry's trunk. They both hurried beside Ron to get a good view.

The Great Hall was lit by innumerous candles hovering up above the four crowded house tables. The bewitched ceiling sparkled with dazzling stars over the sea of frightened looking first years. (Y/N) spotted a girl with fiery red hair among the bunch.

"There's Ginny!" She pointed through the glass.

Ron sighed in what sounded lie relief. "She hasn't been Sorted yet! I thought we missed it."

"Hang on...' Said Harry. "There's an empty chair at the staff table... Where's Snape?"

(Y/N) looked over to the head table. Dumbledore was immersed in the Sorting Ceremony, his half moon glasses sparking in the candlelight. Gilderoy Lockhart was there, too. That time, he wore extravagant robes of aquamarine, a color that (Y/N) thought worked remarkably well for him. Hagrid sat beside him, looming largely over every other person in the hall. But, Harry was right, Professor Snape was no where to be seen.

"Maybe he's ill!" Ron grinned.

"You shouldn't hope for him to be ill." (Y/N) said. "Hope that he's left."

Snape was too mean for his own good, especially to (Y/N) and her friends. Harry got the worst of it, but (Y/N) didn't like the way he would look at her, like he knew something that she did not. She suspected the reason he wasn't as mean to her as he was to Harry was because she had top marks in Potions for her year. Something that Snape no doubt, despised, merely because it was her and not one of his precious Slytherins.

Harry and Ron snickered at her comment. "He might've left because he missed out on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position again this year!" Said Harry enthusiastically.

(Y/N) felt guilty for laughing, but she couldn't stop herself.

"Or," Ventured Ron with a smile. "He might've been sacked! I mean, everyone hates him--"

"Or maybe," Said a voice that made (Y/N)'s blood run cold. "He's waiting to hear why you three didn't arrive on the school train."

She wheeled around, careful to keep herself behind Harry and Ron. Snape stood before them in his typical black robes. He was just as greasy as (Y/N) remembered, and he had a smile just as wicked. (Y/N) knew right away that the three of them were in very deep trouble.

"Follow me," He said.

The three students obeyed without a word. They followed him up the steps, into the warmly lit entrance hall, and down a narrow stone staircase deep into the dungeons. (Y/N)'s heart was racing. Once her godfather found out she arrived to school with Ron Weasley and Harry Potter, breaking many rules along the way, she would be more than done for. If they were expelled, which (Y/N) was certain they would be, she would be right back to confinement in her room. Although, that time, she would not have her owl, and she doubted even Dobby would be allowed to stop in to bring her meals.

(Y/N) felt a shiver creep down her spine as she entered Snape's office. He had shelves upon shelves of jars filled with all sorts of things, none of which looked appealing or even remotely fascinating. Only revolting. (Y/N) looked away as quickly as she noticed them, feeling suddenly very sick.

"So," Snape said slowly. "The train wasn't good enough for the famous Harry Potter and his faithful sidekicks (L/N) and Weasley? Wanted to arrive with a bang, did we?"

"No, sir," Harry was quick to say. "It was the barrier at King's Cross, it--"

"Silence!" Snape hissed. He reached for a newspaper neatly folded on his desk. "You were seen by no less than seven Muggles!" (Y/N) barely got a look at the front page picture -- the Anglia pulling out of the station and high into the sky -- before Snape slammed it down again. "Do you have any idea how serious this is?"

(Y/N) didn't dare to answer.

"You have risked the exposure of our world! Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that's been on these grounds since before you were born!"

"Honestly, Professor Snape," Ventured Ron. "I think it did more damage to us."

"Silence!" He snapped again. He rose from his seat and crept around his desk. "I assure you that were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the three of you would be on the train home tonight!"

(Y/N) was suddenly very thankful that the Sorting Hat hadn't listened to her plea exactly one year ago. She couldn't imagine what she would do if she were the only student sent home. She would worry herself to death before she even arrived at the station.

Snape still was not finished. "As it is--"

"They are not!"

(Y/N) turned around at once to see Dumbledore standing in the doorway. She hadn't ever seen him looking so grim. McGonagall stood behind him, her lips pressed into a fine line. (Y/N) had seen her angry many times before, but never like that. She suspected things were going to get much much worse.

"Headmaster," Snape pointed his long finger right at the second years before him. "These children have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. As such--"

"I am well aware of our bylaws, Severus, having written quite a few of them myself." Dumbledore fixed Snape with a very stern stare that made even (Y/N) feel nervous. "However, as head of Gryffindor House, it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action."

(Y/N) was beyond thankful to be spared from Snape's wrath, but McGongall really wasn't much better. She was much fairer than Snape, but she was still extremely strict.

Ron seemed to be thinking the same exact thing. "We'll go and get our stuff, then." He said solemnly.

McGongall frowned. "What are you talking about, Mr. Weasley?"

"You're going to expel us, aren't you?"

She was quiet for what felt like a lifetime, trailing her eyes along each of the students. Finally, she said, "Not today, Mr. Weasley."

(Y/N) audibly sighed in relief. She thought she could give McGongall the biggest hug. She might've very well saved (Y/N)'s entire summer holiday, and certainly her school year.

"But, I must impress upon each of you the seriousness of what has been done. I will be writing to your families tonight, and you will each receive detention."

And just like that (Y/N)'s blood ran cold. She nearly asked if writing home was really necessary, but she caught herself. In view of what could have happened, a letter home was nothing. Besides, (Y/N) tried to assure herself, there was an entire school year in between the next time she would have to see her godfather. Perhaps that would give him enough time to not be angry with her anymore.

"Very well," Nodded Dumbledore. "I must go back to the feast Minerva, I've got to give out a few notices. Come, Severus, there's a delicious looking custard tart I'd love to sample."

Snape gave a look of pure venom at (Y/N) and her friends before he allowed himself to be whisked away. They were left alone with Professor McGonagall, who was still giving them a rather wrathful stare.

"You'd better get along to the Hospital Wing, Weasley." She said. "You're bleeding."

He wiped at his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt. "Not much." He insisted. "Professor, I wanted to watch my sister being Sorted--"

"The Sorting Ceremony is over," She said. "She is also in Gryffindor."

"Oh," Ron smiled. "Good,"

"Now, the three of you will go straight to your dormitories. I must also return to the feast."

Once she'd left the room, Ron said, "Why can't we go up to the feast?"

"Probably because she doesn't want us setting an example." (Y/N) answered. "I don't mind much. My stomach's starting to hurt from all that toffee."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "But I still wanted to see the look on Fred and George's face when we told them we flew all the way here. And pretty much got away with it, too!"

Harry nodded in agreement, but (Y/N) still felt horribly anxious. They went all the way from the dungeons, passing whispering paintings and climbing narrow flights of stairs, to the portrait of the Fat Lady in front of Gryffinfor Tower.

"Password?" She questioned.

Harry and Ron both looked at (Y/N) expectantly. She only sent them a defiant stare. "Why do you expect me to know? I've been here as long as you."

The password changed every year, and as they hadn't yet met a prefect, none of them had the slightest idea of what it could be. However, help came almost right away; (Y/N) heard hurrying feet heading towards them and turned to see Hermione Granger dashing up the steps.

"There you are! Where have you been? The most ridiculous rumors -- someone said you'd been expelled for crashing a flying car!"

Harry shifted his weight. "Well, we haven't been expelled," He assured her.

Hermione's eyes widened and she looked from him to (Y/N) and Ron, to see if he might be joking. When she realized he wasn't, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "You're not telling me you did fly here?" She nearly sounded as severe as Professor McGongall.

"It wasn't our intention to fly here this morning." (Y/N) tried. "But the circumstances--"

"Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?" She interrupted. After a Summer apart from her, (Y/N) had nearly forgotten how stern Hermione was, especially for a twelve year old girl.

"Skip the lecture," Ron said, sounding tired. "Just tell us the password."

"It's wattlebird," She said dismissively. "But that's not the point--"

But (Y/N) never got to hear Hermione's point, as the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open to reveal the Gryffindor Common Room. It was packed to the walls with Gryffindor students, some standing on tables, some standing on chairs, all of whom were waiting for their arrival. Arms reached through the portrait hole and pulled (Y/N) inside, along with Harry and Ron, and Hermione hurried in after them.

"Brilliant! Inspired!" It was Lee Jordan who'd pulled (Y/N) inside. "What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow! People will be talking about that one for years!"

(Y/N) felt embarrassed, but also somewhat flattered. An older Gryffindor student who she'd never spoken to ruffled her hair and told her she did a good job. Fred and George pushed their way to the front and asked why they weren't invited to ride in the car, too.

Harry nudged (Y/N)'s arm and pointed ahead to a certain red headed boy who looked less than pleased. Percy Weasley wore a very telling frown on his face and he seemed to be trying his best to get close enough to (Y/N) and her friends to tell them off. Ron noticed him not even a moment later.

"Got to get upstairs," He said at once. "Bit tired,"

So the three of them hurried to push past the swarm of students and to the staircases that would lead them to their dormitories. (Y/N) hurried up the stairs, said goodnight to Harry and Ron and ducked away. She found her way to her old room, which had a new sign on it that read SECOND YEARS.

Inside she found her things had already been brought up, apart from Alcestis' aviary, which she thought might be in Harry's dormitory instead. At the window closest to her bed, Alcestis was resting on the ledge. (Y/N) opened it up to let her in, stoking her soft feathers.

The peace and quiet of the room was very short lived. Lavender Brown, Parvati and Padma Patil, and Hermione all came into the room at once. (Y/N) almost expected Hermione to start scolding her again, but Lavender, Parvati, and Padma were too quick. They rushed around her, begging for details on her trip to school. Was she scared? Whose idea was it? Did she really mean to fly into the Whomping Willow?

Hermione sat on her bed with a roll of her eyes, but (Y/N) knew she wasn't angry. She had a small smile on her lips. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she liked hearing the story, too.

The girls didn't get much sleep that night, but by the time Hermione said they should be getting to bed, (Y/N) had forgotten all about her worries of the letter to Lucius and Narcissa. She was finally back home with her family, and she couldn't have been happier.